Float control means for washing machines



T. R. SMITH FLOAT CONTROL MEANS FOR WASHING MACHINES Original Filed Dec. 20, 1948 March 31, 1953 IN V EN TOR.

/Ilallfl/Il IlIIIalnilllflalII/Illlfrl Patented Mar. 31, 1953 FLOAT CONTROL MEANS FOR WASHING MACHINES Thomas R. Smith, Newton, Iowa, assignor to The Maytag Company', Newton, Iowa, a corporation of Delaware `Original. application .December v2l), 19.48, Serial No. 66,230. Divided and this application November '17, r1950, Serial No. 196,296

,3- Claims. 1

This invention relates to float control means and more particularly to iioat control means for washing machines and the like.

The present application is a division of the parent application. Serial No. 65,230, filed December 20, i948.

Although notl so limited, the invention iinds particularly good application to the automatic type of washing machine wherein the washing liquid is fed into a washing tub until an amount is supplied to reacha predetermined level, whereupon the cycle is continued automatically for washing and rinsing fabrics placed in the washing tub and then. for extracting liquid therefrom. For the proper washing of fabrics in a tub of la washing machine, it is important that the proper amount of liquid be fed into the tub initially and for economic purposes, among others, the supplyof liquid should be shut-off when a certain predetermined level is reached. VFor accurate and proper operation, the liquid supply should be vamtomatically shut off. After the washing `operation, it is important that a proper amount of rinsing liquid should be supplied.

One object of the invention is to provide novel and practical float control means for a washing machine or the like whereby after supplied washing and rinsing liquids have reached a predetermined level in the washing tub, the supply will be automatically discontinued until a further supply is required.

,Another object is to provide simple, durable, eirlcient and readily accessible liquid supply oat control means ladapted to meet the requirements for successful operation.

These and other objects are accomplished by the iloat control shown in the accompanying sheet of drawings wherein the single figure is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a washing machine embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a washing machine having a cabinet including four vertical side walls I connected in any suitable manner and a cover plate I2 connected to the side walls I0 through anges l 4. The cover plate I2 has a central opening I6 adapted to be closed by a lid I8 which is preferably pivotally connected to the cover plate l2. Within the cabinet Ill is a stationary tub 20 having a liquid-tight seal connection 22 with the cover plate l2. Mounted within the outer stationary tub 20 is a rotatable clothes or fabric-receiving tub having an imperforate portion 24 and a perforate portion 26 suitably held in spaced relationship by spacing elements 28 and screws 30. The upper end of perforate portion 25 terminates in an upwardly and inwardly extending portion 32 having an opening 313 in line with the cover opening i6 whereby when the lid I8 is raised clothes or fabrics may be placed in the inner rotatable tub and withdrawn therefrom.

Within the inner rotatable tub there is an agitator 36 suitably splined orconnected to the upper end of a shaft 38 whereby the agitator may be given a to-and-fro movement. The agitator is formed with a central post :lll and a base or body portion 42 extending downwardly and outwardly from the center post 49. One or more blades-44 which extend outwardly from the base portion A2 may be provided, which, when the agitator is oscillated, effects a washing operation within the inner tub.

The verticallyarranged central post or Vpedestal ld extends upwardly from the base 42 and is formed with an inner vertical chamber or coinpartment e5 which communicates with the interior of the tub 2li-25 through one or more openings 48. A float 5i! is vertically slidably mounted within the float chamber 45 and is adapted to be moved in accordance with change in the liquid level within the inner tub 24-26 for operating certain control mechanisms located within the lid i8 and represented by the push button 52. The iioat 50 is provided with a lower closed end 54 and has its upper end preferably closed by a cap 56, the periphery of which extends beyond the vertical coniines of the cylindrical float proper and overlaps the upper end of the center post lll whereby the iloat 5D is provided with a grip which may be readily grasped by the operator for removing and cleaning the float 5l! as well as the interior of the center Ml when desired. This oat 5|) is adapted to engage and operate the control button 52 mounted in the lid I8 when the washing and rinsing liquid rises to a predetermined level within the inner rotatable tub 24-26 for automatically shutting 01T the supply of washing and rinsing liquid.

While the speciiic illustration of the invention contemplates the mounting of this float 5t within the recess provided in the center post for the agitator, nevertheless it comprehends the mounting of such a float within other supporting structure whether or not the same is in any way associated with the agitator or other washing means disposed within the inner tub 24-26. As mentioned, the oat 5t is adapted, upon the washing or rinsing liquid attaining a predetermined height in the inner tub 2li-26, to move the control button 52 which extends into the lid for operating the liquid supply control mechanism mounted therein. In those instances Where the fioat chamber 46 is provided in the agitator, it Was found that a more satisfactory performance is obtained when a single passage, such as 423, is provided from the interior of the tub 2li-26 into the float chamber. This eiectively retards the transfer of uid fluctuations from the inner tub into the float chamber and thereby stabilizes the float.

As mentioned above, the agitator 35 is given an oscillatory movement during the Washing operation. When the Washing operation is completed the agitator 35 is temporarily stopped and the inner tub 24-26 is given a rotary spinning movement through mechanism represented by the casing 58 for discharging the Washing liquid from the inner tub 2li-26 and from the float chamber 46 whereupon the float 50 passes out of engagement with the control button 52 and moves downwardly within the iioat chamber 46. Thereafter, and when the inner tub 2li-25 is prefern ably stationary, rinsing liquid is supplied to the inner tub 24-26 until the liquid has reached a predetermined level therein, as a result of which the float 59 again is raised into engagement With the control button 52 preparatory to further movement of the `agitator and thereafter a rotation of the inner tub 24-26 for dischargingthe rinsing liquid Within the inner tub and for extracting liquid from the clothes Washed and rinsed therein.

Preferably the center post 49 has a plurality of vertically-extending circumferentially-spaced inwardly-extending projections to act as guides for the vertical movement of the oat 50.

By means of the arrangement herein disclosed, the objects of the invention are accomplished. There may be various modifications of the invention and it is my intention to cover all such modifications coming Within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a washing machine. the combination of a float chamber, a iioat movable in and guided by said oat chamber and responsive to change in the liquid level therein, one end of said float being closed by a gripping element at the upper end thereof disposed exteriorly of said float chamber to facilitate the removal of the iloat from said float chamber.

2. In a washing machine, the combination of a center post having a iioat chamber, a iloat guided by said center post and movably mounted in said oat chamber in response to change in liquid level, the upper end of said iioat being closed by a gripping element extending over the upper edge of said center post to facilitate the removal of the float from said float chamber.

3. In a Washing machine, the combination of a washing receptacle, a center post having a float chamber disposed therein and having communication therewith through at least one opening, a float guided by said center post and movably mounted in said float chamber in response to change in liquid level in said receptacle, and a closure for the upper end of said float extending over the upper edge of said center post to provide gripping means to facilitate the removal of the iioat from said float chamber.

THOMAS R. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,427,306 Luthy Aug. 29, 1922 1,433,216 MCCutchen Oct. 24, 1922 1,524,458 Simons Jan. 27, 1925 1,648,756 Cherry Nov. 18, 1927 2,079,098 Woolley May 4, 1937 2,477,224 Wright July 26, 1949 

